LGHR makes no secret or apology for expressing an opinion that Lachlan Murray does not possess credentials to match those of several other applicants for the role of Chief Executive Officer of Racing Queensland.
It’s nothing personal but the drawback to Murray transitioning from the Interim job he has held for far too long is his corporate bookmaking background – like his predecessor Jason Scott who reportedly recommended him as a replacement.
There are three drawbacks to these CEO’s with ‘Diplomas in Corporate Bookmaking’. They lack grass roots knowledge of the racing industry, they are perceived to still be too closely connected to their ‘old corporate mates’ and they struggle in a role not solely restricted to the gallops but harness and greyhounds as well. Critics say the latter was where Scott hit a hurdle shortly before his departure.
With reports of a ‘star studded’ field for the CEO job, it’s hard to see how Murray has the credentials or experience possessed by the likes of former Godolphin and Magic Millions boss Vin Cox, respected wagering identity Paul Bittar and ex-Melbourne Racing Club Chief Executive Josh Blanksby. If one of that trio wasn’t appointed ahead of him, because he has the endorsement of new RQ Chairman Matt McGrath, then there’s something wrong with the selection process.
One wonders why it has taken so long to appoint a CEO with Murray’s Interim role farcically extended to the end of the year and the recruitment hunt only launched on Wednesday. Things move slowly in racing in Queensland with industry stakeholders still waiting for the Government to decide which recommendations of the McGrath Review will be implemented and when.
This came after the Racing Minister, RQ chairman McGrath and his sidekick Interim CEO copped a major setback to their hopes of reducing the Point Of Consumption Tax paid by the corporate bookies which would have cost the Government, the industry and the taxpayers of Queenslanders millions of dollars. It stumbled at the 11th hour when Cabinet refused to endorse the McGrath proposal. One of the reasons the industry doesn’t want Sydney-based McGrath and Interim CEO Murray is because of their apparent closeness to the corporates.
With a National Tote given the green light – and its introduction not far away – RQ will need someone to co-ordinate with the TAB and the corporate bookies who no doubt will do everything in their power to sabotage the amalgamated tote operation. A role has been earmarked for a suitably credentialed person at RQ and Murray fits the bill perfectly.
After the work he has done in the Interim role for 18 months, no-one, especially LGHR, wants to see him out of a job. The other option is for Murray to be a Racing Manager (or similar appointment) to the CEO, especially if the suitable candidate remains responsible for the three codes and there is no return to harness and greyhounds having their own Boards and administration which was said to be planned by the LNP after the Labor amalgamation to reduce a cost duplication.
Murray has won friends in the media in Queensland. SKY Channel’s respected face in the north, Michael Charge, has been around racing for many years and he told LGHR recently that Lachlan was the best CEO he had seen during that time.
The industry will tend to take more notice of Charge than Ben Dorries, who told host Paul Joice on SKY Radio today (Thursday) that Murray was a ‘fine human being’ who had impressed him working to help the industry statewide in times of need. Dorries has been there on the coat-tails of the CEO during natural disasters that caused damage to racing infrastructure as well as ‘sharing a few beers’ and a curried camel pie at a Birdsville Cup carnival last year.
Dorries wrote this week that Murray, before joining RQ, had been in high-powered financial roles for corporate bookmakers including Ladbrokes and Sportsbet, and had a wealth of experience including runs on the board in the acting CEO role. If he was so ‘high-powered’ why did the boss of those two big corporate entities let him escape? And why have three high profile racing identities told LGHR in recent months – after watching him in action – that he was – with all due respects (their words not ours) a ‘lightweight’ when it came to the ‘nuts and bolts’ of racing.
Murray told his mate Dorries: “Having spent the last 18 months in the acting CEO role, it’s been a terrific experience meeting participants across the entire State. Since taking the reins in February last year, the industry has dealt with a lot in that time with challenges such as cyclones and flooding through to rewarding stories such as the successes of the respective carnivals in the three codes.
“I’ve learned a great deal during the time and am excited about the prospect of continuing to advance racing in Queensland,” Murray went on to say – almost a concession that he has a lot to learn about racing. For the record LGHR has never met or spoken to Murray. He prefers to deal with those who don’t criticize like Dorries. We still feel he is an asset to RQ – which some of his first lieutenants certainly aren’t and should be shown the door – but not in the CEO role.
Craig Sneesby, the chief executive of U&U Recruitment Partners, told Racenet that no short list had been established for the position. Well if it hasn’t, it should be. And why wait until the end of the year when Murray’s interim position expires?
The recruiters say they are looking nationally and internationally for a suitable CEO and have invited applications from all interested parties. The sooner this process is completed the better for racing in Queensland. If the remuneration package is as good as they say, the industry deserves better than some of those it has been forced to endure in the past. Who will forget the likes of ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ Tuttle or ‘Pins, I’m better off with the Poms’ Parnell?
